I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Zepharius: Volume 1
by Mel Snyder
Series: Zepharius #1
Series Rating:
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on January 27, 2016
Genres: Dystopian
Pages: 316
Format: Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble
“What do you mean you weren’t aware?” He smiles, questioning my lack of concern for my own status.
I tilt my head slightly, puzzled by his action.
He seems different, in a way that I can’t seem to comprehend. His conversation and wording are so odd, his gestures seem so carefree, and there’s a look in his eyes that gives off a sense of determination that is different from the other soldiers. He’s also smiling, an action that I can’t ever recall seeing before. Why is he smiling? Why do people smile?
__________The planet Gisaawek is prospering in its government and is growing in military power and security. Everyone is dedicated to their assignments. Their objective is serving their planet to the best of their ability.
Zepharius is a soldier in Gisaawek and works with that objective in mind.
Throughout the years, however, she becomes aware of abnormalities that reside within her world. People do not speak to each other unless it is necessary for them to do so. Improving strength on the planet is their only objective. Events and memories before a certain point in time have been obliterated.
More importantly, there are people within the planet who disappear faster than they are appearing. Their existence is dubbed “dangerous and forbidden”. They are Gisaawekians who have the ability to choose their own objective, which can lead to the destruction of both themselves and the planet. They are called dïfakàténs.
She comes to realize that the world she lives in is not as perfect as it seems. What will happen when she comes across secrets that could explain why?
Zepharius: Volume 1 by Mel Synder is the first book in a new trilogy by an original upcoming author. It is a different type of book.
Will Zepharius remember her world the way it used to be?
Zepharius
Zepharius is our main female protagonist and the one that we see this world through her eyes. Well, if you can call them her eyes. Zepharius is apart of an alien race on a different planet in a different solar system. She is one of many kids in her mom’s life, and they were living peacefully until something strange happened that changed it all.
There isn’t much that I like or dislike this character. Zepharius is different from other protagonists I met in books.
The Story
The story in this book is a lot different than what I excepted. In Zepharius, we time skipped a lot in terms of years and only got to know a little bit about each thing before the story takes off. There is so much going on in this story. I think that the author was trying to fit in too much into the beginning book. I would have liked to have known how old Zepharius was, in the beginning, to understand how old she was after she was done with the Instructional course and then how old she was when the story jumps right back in.
Two Stars
Zepharius: Volume 1 by Mel Synder is a different story than I thought it would be, and it fell short of my expectations. I sadly wanted to like this book a lot more than what I did, but I am giving it a two-star rating and only recommending it to people that enjoy science fiction books.
Zepharius (so far)
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Zepharius: Volume 1 by Mel Synder.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Mel Snyder
I am a self-published author currently creating science fiction works that introduce readers to new worlds and characters while maintaining a parallel reflection on the world today. Using inspiration from life and the cosmos, I use my creative works to emphasise the subjects of existence, the effects of societal expectations, overcoming the barriers of mental and physical illness, and the continuous struggle of understanding oneself.
Aside from writing, I also enjoy drawing and painting. My art is also heavily inspired by the same subjects that my writing includes; using my pastime studies of psychology, astronomy, and other sciences to depict my personal interpretation of the world around us. I do take breaks, sometimes! I use my downtime to play drums, read science books, play the occasional video game, or just curl up on the couch to watch sci-fi with my three-legged cat, Matrix.
I hope that in the future, I can finish up my first series and move onto the next several book ideas stored away. I want to be able to share my ideas and worlds with others, to give people a place where they feel they belong and a person they feel they can relate to. As fictional as the stories are, I want to make them as real as possible so that no one feels alone.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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